Our team

Emily (she/her) is a dedicated program assistant based in Calgary. With her background in psychology and sociology, Emily is passionate about fostering mental well-being among youth and advocating for social justice. Currently, she supports different projects and programs at TIES.

Nova Zeraati is a Canada-based multidisciplinary professional and community builder with more than a decade of experience leading projects ranging from civil engineering to software. Equipped with a master’s degree and certifications in project management, product management, and B2B sales, Nova works at the crossroads of technology, research, and social impact. Nova thrives on bringing people and ideas together to turn challenges into practical solutions.

Janna Balequia is the Rise Program Coordinator, supporting newcomer communities through inclusive programming and mentorship. She collaborates with teams and leadership to foster safe, empowering spaces where individuals can grow, connect and build meaningful futures

Emilie recently graduated from the University of Calgary with a BA in Psychology (Honours). She is working on the Voices in the Art project, and coordinates the Beyond Translation program, which aims to mitigate negative impacts of Child Language Brokering.

Amanda is completing her BA in Global Development Studies at the University of Calgary, with a focus on health, pluralism, and global citizenship. She is committed to building inclusive and equitable communities and driving change through research and collective action.

Hamed is a historian and linguist at the University of Calgary, specializing in Eurasian Indigenousand Canadian Ethnography. His research focuses on linguistic and cultural identity formation, pluralism, and decolonial approaches, with particular attention to immigration and multiculturalism in Canada. He currently serves as a Research Associate at the TIES Centre for Immigrant Research (TCIR), where he contributes to IRCC’s Service Delivery Improvement (SDI) initiatives and policy development.

Annisha is a research assistant with TCIR. Previously a LINC instructor, she taught English to immigrants and refugees across various levels. She holds an MA in English with a research focus concerning intersectional feminisms and disenfranchised groups.

Dr. Vadim Besprozvany has scholarly interests in cultural studies, semiotics, and communications theory, focusing on design systems, emotional design, and visual rhetorics. His research also examines travelogues and migration narratives, analyzing their cultural significance and rhetorical strategies.

Master student at the University of Michigan School of Information, Isha is a UX designer and researcher who crafts user-friendly and beautiful digital products. She is passionate about making technology accessible and enjoyable for all.

Influenced by personal experience, she is passionate about exploring the historical, social, and legal issues surrounding immigrants. She holds a degree in Sociology and has worked with the Centre in various roles, primarily writing about barriers and facilitators to integration.

Angela is a mixed methods researcher based in Calgary, specializing in issues impacting newcomers and immigrants to Canada. Her work aims to address the unique challenges faced by these communities, also including research engaged at an intersection of digital technologies and humanitarianism.

Patricia Gomez, BA, is a dedicated Research Assistant at TIES. She showcases her qualitative research skills and multicultural experience while her bilingual abilities enrich engagement with marginalized communities. Currently, she is working on the Voices In the Arts project to research the experience of 2SLGBTQIA+ immigrant youth in Calgary.

Dr. Kassan’s scholarly interests are informed by her own bi-cultural identity, and include presently includes two major foci. First, she is studying immigration experiences across different groups (i.e., newcomer youth, women, 2SLGBTQIA+ peoples). Second, she is researching teaching and learning, investigating cultural and social justice responsiveness in professional psychology.

Fatemeh is an expert in research methodology and data analysis at The Immigrant Education Society. She implements data-driven strategies to support evidence-based decision-making, enhancing the quality of life for immigrant communities through community-based research.

Rochelle Deloria (she/her) is a second-generation Filipino Canadian settler on Treaty 7 Territory, and Metis District of Alberta, 5 and 6. As a passionate and driven community member, advocate and a Master of Social Work Thesis student at UCalgary Faculty of Social Work, her work and passions are centred on social justice, cross-cultural mental health and transnational experiences for newcomer and racialized youth.

Kreisha, an immigrant shaped by her experiences, is a leader dedicated to rooting herself in her new country and championing social justice. Committed to her advocacy, she empowers communities and uplifts individuals through research and innovative program development.

Jenalyn (she/her) is a Psychology PhD student at the University of Toronto who researches the biopsychosocial experiences of marginalized communities through an intersectional lens. At TIES, she currently works on the LENS study, which examines the impact of work integration social enterprises on newcomer and BIPOC individuals in Alberta.

Dr. Odessa Gonzalez Benson is an Associate Professor at the University of Michigan School of Social Work. Her research focuses on the intersection of immigration, service provision, and social justice, striving to understand and address disparities in access and quality of services for marginalized populations.

Gurleen, MRes, MSc, is an experienced qualitative researcher with expertise in community-based research involving vulnerable populations. She leads Voices in the Art, which uses an arts-based methodology to explore newcomer 2SLGBTQIA+ youths’ intersecting identities and experiences with gender-based violence.

Thomas Tri is a Master of Social Work student at York University in Toronto, Ontario. His research interests focus on debility, migration, and sexuality. He currently contributes to the Voices in the Art project, exploring 2SLGBTQIA+ newcomer youths’ experiences in Calgary through arts-based engagement ethnography.

Geneca, also known as Gen, has a strong dedication to research in the settlement sector and academic studies focusing on community development and improvement. At The Immigrant Education Society, she has worked on various projects addressing diverse newcomer experiences, aiming to positively impact their integration and lives in Calgary, creating a more supportive and inclusive community.

Katerina leverages program management expertise to champion social good. Passionate about equity, climate action, and sustainability, she leads initiatives at The Immigrant Education Society and seeks impactful opportunities to make a positive global difference.